Apparatus for making metallic axles



April 14, 1-925.

C. G. STEELE APPARATUS FOR MAKING METALLIC AXLES Filed April 1, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 .Z5wezv6or: Clark; asiwze,

April 14, 1925. 1,533,670

C. G. STEELE APPARATUS FOR MAKING METALLIC AXLES Filed April 1, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I? I 5 v Irwentor: I I marge; aszecza,

April 14, 1925.

C. G. STEELE APPARATUS FOR MAKING METALLIC AXLES Filed April 1, 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet Patented Apr. 14, 1925. I

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES G. STEELE, 0F BERKELEY,.CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO JOS. I. FINN, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

APPARATUS FOR MAKING METALLIC AXLES.

Application filed April 1, 1922. Serial No. 548,751.

To all whom it may canon-n:

Be it known that I. (nannies G. STEELE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Berkeley, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented certain ne and useful ln'iprovements in Apparatus for Making Metallic Axles, of which the following is a specification, reference being bad therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention comprises an apparatus for forging and shaping metallic elements. lVhile unrestricted in its application, it is especially useful in connection with the shaping, forming and forging of axles.

It is contemplated among the objects of the invention to provide an apparatus which will forge, shape and form car-axles, for example, from billets in such a way that elongation of the axle during the shaping operation will be reduced to a negligible degree; wherein the billets may be automatically fed into roller elements placed to operate on the billets along their length, the billets being arranged parallel with the rolls,

' permitting a continuous operation of the machine, the billets going in on one side of the rolls and automatically ejected at the other, without stopping the rolls; wherein mechanism is provided for positively and accurately feeding and extracting the billets and axles from the rolls, these operations being in timed relation to other movements of the rolls; and wherein the forging pressure on the billets will be applied gradually from the center at first and, while being completed, there will be cooperating pressure from elements which are adapted to form flanges on the billets, the flanges assisting in preventing elongation of the billet and compacting the metal within the confines of these elements.

Still another object contemplated is the method of forging billets wherein there is a continuous operation of a machine, the billets going in on one side of the machine in unformed state and coming out completely formed on the other, the whole-being ac-.

complished at one revolution of a forging roller press, and without stopping the rolls, the pressure being applied along the length of a billet automatically placed parallel with the rolls, as distinguished from devices in which the billet is drawn into a roll endwise and substantially elongated, the metal being piled up or crowded by the bite of the rolls.

The invention is in the nature of an improvement on the invention set forth in my prior Patent No. 698,071, granted to me April 23, 1902, and contemplates improvements in the apparatus and method of forging billets set forth in that patent.

The method herein contemplated may be practiced by various types of apparatus, but byactual working the embodiment herein illustrated has been found particularly successful.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in top plan showing an assembly of elements comprising one form of forging machine:

Figure 2 is a view of the same, in side elevation;

Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 are views in vertical section on the lines 33, 44, 5-5 and 6-6, respectively, of Fig. 2;

. Fig. 7 is a detail view in top plan, the up per roll being removed and a section of the bearing being broken away to show underlying structure; and

Fig. 8 is a view in plan of a forged billet.

In these drawings, 1 designates a source of power associated with a drive-pulley 2. This operates a driving pinion 3 in mesh with a gear 4 of considerably larger dimension, the desideratum being to translate speed into power. The large gear is n1ouuted on one end of a shaft suitably disposed in bearings and carrying another driving pinion 5, both being positively secured to the shaft. The drive pinion 5 is again in mesh with a large gear l), disposed on a shaft. suitably mounted for rotation and having secured thereto another driving pinion 7. This latter is in mesh with a gear 8, loosely mounted on a shaft 9, suitably journaled and having attached thereto one component of a clptoh 10. The other component is splincd on the shaft and is shit'table to secure the gear 8 to the shaft 9, which is the main drive shaft of the machine.

On the shaft 9 there is a small driving pinion 11, meshing with a large gear 12 and small gears 13 and 14, all of the gears being suitably mounted securely on shafts between uprights 15, the entire mechanism being rigidly and securely disposed upon a suitable. bed, rigidity being the desideratum. All of the gearing is preferably double mounted, the journals being in proximity to the gearing, and the gears l2, l3 and '14 are especialill) ltll) llll 1y secured against any liability to side play or looseness in their action. These gears are mounted on shafts which pass through one of the mountings 15, and are secured to extensions, stubs, or jack-shafts 16, as by collars 17. A similar means is utilized to secure shafts 16 to forging or roll-pressure apparatus.

As here shown, this press comprises a large roll 18, having a sector cut therefrom to constitute a fiat portion 19, in spaced relation to coacting rolls 20 and 21 when in the position shown in Figs. 4 and 5. These rolls are suitably mounted for rotation in standards supported 011 the bed and are similar to those already disclosed in my prior patent above referred to. The large roll has, on its surface, a cam-shaped projection or extended portion 22 and flangeforming ridges 23 adapted to shape a billet 24.

The operation of this portion of the machine will be obvious. The gearing provides a powerful, positive and predetermined movement of the rolls in timed relation, the top roll or large roll 17 rotating at a surface speed equal to that of the smaller rolls 20 and 21, and positively connected thereto in such a manner that there will be no possibility of slippage or crowding of the surface metal of a billet being forged therein. The ridges and cam-shaped projection are arranged on the large roll in a position to operate successively, the arrangement being worked out to reduce elongation to a minimum and at the same time avoid piling up of metal due to pushing it forward in advance of the rolls. The positive mounting and connection of the rolls and the arrangement of the cam surface and ridges all aid in producing this'desired result and. constitute a method of forging or roll-pressing as distinguished from rolling along their length or hammering, as this term is generally understood.

Means are provided for feeding the billets to the rolls and ejecting the finished product therefrom, the action of the parts being entirely automatic and in timed relation to the movement of the rolls, so that both feeding and extraction will take place when the top roll has assumed a position as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, for instance, the flat surface of the roll being in spaced relation to the eoactingrolls and leaving clearance for the insertion of the billet and removal of the forged product, Without stopping the rotation of the rolls.

As here shown, such means comprise arms 25 securely mounted at one end upon a lever 26, the free ends of the arms extending between the rolls 20 and 21 and adapted to engage and force from between,the rolls a billet when operated from the position shownin Fig. 4, by depression of the outer end of the lever 26. To aid in giving the billets a lateral as well as inward movement, the free ends of the arms are beveled so that movement thereof between the bite of rolls 20 and 21 will push the forged billet up and out to a suitable guideway (not shown),

Means are provided for actuating the lever 26 and the arms disposed thereon in timed relation to the action of the rolls, and also for restraining a series of billets while one is being fed forward and feeding as soon as the forged billet has left the rolls. As here shown, such means include a fulcrum 27 disposed intermediate the ends of the lever 26, the outer end of this lever being again connected with the outer end of a second or cross-lever 28, pivoted intermediate its ends and arranged so that upward movement of the right hand end of cross-lever 28, when in the position shown in Fig. 7, will depress the outer or power end of lever 26 and force the arms 25 between the bite of the rolls; To effect this movement in timed relation to the rolls, there is provided a cam 29 on one of the roll-shaft couplings, in this instance. This is arranged to engage and depress an end of a lever 30, suitably fulcrumed intermediate its ends and connected at its outer end with the power end of lever 28. \Vhen the cam depresses the outer end of the lever 30, the other end will .be lifted. This lifting of the other end also lifts the corresponding end of the lever 28, depressing its opposite end and the corresponding end of lever 26. This depression of the power end of the lever 26 raises the arms on its other end into position between the rolls to force the billet therefrom.

Means are provided for feeding billets one at a time to the rolls and coacting with the extracting means just described so that the billet will be fed in timed relation to the removal of the forged and finished billet, and also to insure feeding of only a single billet from a series arranged in assembled position awaiting action by the rolls.

As here shown, such means include arms 31, pivotally mounted at one end intermediate the fulcrum 27 and power end of the lever 26. The outer end of'each arm extends through an opening formed in the guide or runway 32 whereon a series of billets is assembled awaiting action by the rolls. The ends of the arms are placed so as to hold a billet just free from the sweep of the large roll, and when the power end of the lever 26 is depressed, the arms will be depressed with it, allowing a billet to ad vance into position between the bite of the rolls.

Coacting with this feeding means there are means for holding back the other billets to insure feeding of only one at a time. Such means, in the present embodiment, in-

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'clude arms 33 mounted on the outer ends of levers 34, the latter being fulcrumed intermediate their ends, as at 35, and the power ends of these levers being arranged inthe path of travel of the lever 26, so that when its power end is depressed it will depress the outer ends of the levers 34, causing the other ends to be lifted, thus forcing the arms'33 upwardly, The outer ends of arms 33 ass through openings in the guideways and are placed so that when the arms 31 are loweredthe arms 33 will be lifted and hold the next successive billet in fixed posit-ion until the preceding one has been placed in the rolls. As soon as the lever 26 is released, the parts again assume the'position shown in Fig. 4, and are again ready for another cycle. of operations.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the presentvinvention includes novel mechanisms for effecting the objects and advantages set forth and a method of automatically, and successively feeding to and withdrawing from a forging roll-press, a successive series of billets and ejecting the forged billets in timed relation to the action of the rolls and also to the feeding of the next successive billet, the forging or rolling action being entirely continuous and unin terrupted. WVhileithas been disclosed in connection with the present embodiment. it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the precise form of this disclosure, as many changes in the general arrangement and the method of effecting it are within the scope of the invention asset forth in the claims.

Preparatory to the introduction of each billet into the machine, and as a step preliminary to the treatment of the billet 1n the machine, the billet is heated in any appropriate manner until it is in a softened condition suff cient for a shaping action thereon of the aforementioned instrumenta-hties of the machine. The degree of heat, the extent of softening, etc., are dependent upon the I character and condition of the billet; but,

with the rolls for driving them in predetermined speed relation, one of the rolls having a cutaway portion; means for successively feeding a billet to the forging members; and means for timing the feeding, whereby a billet will be presented to the forging rolls when the cutaway portion of one of the rolls is in tion to the other rolls.

2. A machine for forging billets including forging members, means for successively feeding a billet to the forging members, means for extracting the forged billet from the members, and means for timing the feeding and extraction in predetermined relation to the action of the forging members, such means including means for positively predetermined relaforcing the forged billet from the forging members, and means, actuated by and coacting with the first mentioned means, for placnext successive billet in position with relation to the forging members, and means for holding a plurality of billets in restricted position while one of them is being fed to the forging members.

4. A machine for forging billets includmg forging members comprising supporting rolls and a pressure roll; gearing as-' sociated with the rolls for driving them in predetermined speed relation, one of the rolls having a' cutaway portion; means for successively feeding a billet to the forging members; means for timing the feeding, whereby a billet will be presented to the forging rolls when the cutaway portion of one of the rolls is in predetermined relation to the other rolls; said timing means including a cam actuated by one of the rolls; lever mechanism actuatable by the cam; and feedcontrolling mechanism connected with the lever mechanism.

5. A machine for forging billets including forging members comprising supporting rolls and a pressure roll; gearing associated with the rolls for driving them in predetermined speed relation, one of the rolls having a cutaway portion; means for successively feeding a billet to the forging members; means for timing the feeding, whereby a billet will be presented to the forging rolls when the cutaway portion of one of the rolls is in predetermined relation to the other rolls; said timing means including a cam actuated by one of the rolls; lever mechanism actuatable by the cam; feed-controlling mechanism connectedwitlrthe lever mechanism; said feed-controlling mechanism including a stop member to restrain the billets; and a pusher member connected lIO llii

with the lever mechanism and actuatable to positivel move a billet in timed relation to the movement of the stop mechanism.

6. The combination of a forging press including roller members, gearing associated therewith and adapted to drive the roller members in predetermined speed relation one to another, power associated with the gearing and actuatin the same. means for placing a billet in position to be operated upon by the rolls, means for extracting the billet when the operation has been completed, such means including an arm extending between certain of the rolls and actuatable. to force a billet therefrom, and means for actuating the arm.

7. The combination of a forging press including roller members. gearing associated therewith and adapted to drive the roller members in predetermined speed relation one to another. power associated with the gearing and actuatii'ig the same, means for placing a billet in position to be operated upon by the rolls, means for extracting the billet when the operation has been completed, such means including an arm extending between certain of the rolls and actuatable to force a billet therefrom, and means for actuating the arm, said means including a lever member and a connection between the lever and the means for actuating the rolls.

8. The combination of a forging press including roller-members, gearing associated therewith and adapted to drive the roller members in predetermined speed relation one to another, power associated with the gearing and actuating the same, means for placing a billet in position to be operated upon by the rolls, means for extracting the billet when the operation has been completed, such means including an arm extending between certain of the rolls and actuatable to force a billet therefrom, and means for actuating the arm, said means including a lever member and a connection between the lever and the means for actuating the rolls, said connection including a lever connection and a cam tor actuating the lever.

9. The combinatioi'i of a forging press including roller members. gearing associated therewith and adapted to drive the roller members in predetermined speed relation one to another, power associated with the gearing and actuating the same, means for placing a billet in position to be operated upon by the rolls, means for extracting the billet when the operation has been completed, means for operating these mechanisms in timed relation to the action of the rolls, and means for holding a pluralit of billets in restrained position while one o the billets is being fed to the rolls.

10. The combination of a forging press including roller members, gearing associated therewith and adapted to drive the roller members in predetermined speed relation one to another, power associated with the gearing and actuating the same, means for placing a billet in position to be operated upon by the rolls, means for extracting the billet when the operation has been completed, means for operating these mechanisms in timed relation to the action of the rolls. and means for holding a plurality of billets in restrained position while one of the billets is being fed to the rolls, said means including an arm adapted to be placed in the path of travel of the billets to the rolls and means for operating the arm.

11. The con'ibination of a forging press including roller members, gearing associated therewith and adapted to drive the roller members in predetermined speed relation one to another, power associated with the gearing and actuating the same. means for placing a billet in position to be operated upon by the rolls, means for extracting the billet when the operation has been completed, means for operating these mechanisms in timed relation to the action of the rolls, means for holding a plurality of billets in restrained position while one of the billets is being fed to the rolls, said means including an arm adapted to be placed in the path of travel of the billets to the rolls, and means for operating the arm, said operating means including a lever member and means for operating it in timed relation to the operation of the rolls.

12. The combination of a forging press including roller members, gearing associated therewith and adapted to drive the roller members in predetermined speed relation one to another, power associated with the gearing and actuating the same, means for placing a billet in position to be oper ated upon by the rolls, means for extracting the billet when the operation has been completed, means for operating these mechanisms in timed relation to the action of the rolls, means for holding a plurality of billets in restrained position while one of the billets is being fed to the rolls, said means including an arm adapted to be placed in the path of travel of the billets to the rolls, means for operating the arm, said operating means including a lever member and means for operatin it in timed relation to the operation of t e rolls, and a connection between the restraining means and extracting means whereby they are operated in predetermined relation.

13. A machine for forging billets, including forging members comprising supporting rolls and a pressure roll; gearing associated with the rolls for driving them in predetermined speed relation; one of the rolls having a cut-away portion; mechanism for feeding a billet tothe rolls, in-

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eluding a stop member; lever mechanism for actuating the stop member in predetermined relation to the rotation of the rolls, said mechanism including a cam associated operatively with one of the rolls and a(lapti d to actuate the lever mechanisni; and a pusher member also connected with the lever mechanism and operable thereby to move a billet in timed relation to the movement of the stop mechanism.

14. A machine for forging billets, including forging members comprising support-- ing rolls and a pressure roll; gearing as sociated with the rolls for driving them in predetermined speed relation; one of the rolls having a cut-away portion; mechanism for feeding a billet to the rolls, ineluding, a stop member; lever mechanism for actuating the stop member in predetermined relation to the rotation of the rolls, said mechanism including a cam associated operatively with one of the rolls and adapted to actuate the lever mechanism; a pusher member also connected With the lever mechanism and operable thereby to move a billet i'n timed relation .to the movement of the stop mechanism; and an instrumentality including an arm connected with the lever mechanism and operable thereby to positively force a completed billet out of position upon the supporting rolls. a

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence. of two witnesses.

CHARLES G. STEELE. Witnesses:

C. L. Pon'rnn, J. W. CHAMLERS. 

